Despite the Angels - By Madeline A Stringer Page 0,25

would contribute. Alessia sat in the midst of the activity and nursed Armishamai. Then, giving her a hard crust to chew on, she joined in with the work. Danthys and Bullneck were down in the square, helping to set up tables and raising screens across some of the streets to give protection from the winter winds. The festival meal would take place at midday, when the square might catch some sun and be warm.

Danthys and Alessia chatted as they lay in bed together later. Danthys had admired Armishamai’s amulet and had praised Alessia for her skill after such a short time learning. They were looking forward to the festival meal tomorrow and hoping that Elena and her family might still arrive. As they talked, they felt a shake in the bed.

“Stop that, Danthys!” protested Alessia, prodding him in the side.

“I did nothing, love. I think it is the earth god, turning over again. She has been very restless these last ten days, had you noticed? Maybe she is looking forward to the festival, too. Let’s go to sleep, it will come quicker.”

But Alessia could not sleep without first getting out of bed and doing a few steps of the earth walk, “to let her know we heard”. Then she got back into bed and fell asleep.

They woke again, when it was still dark, as another tremor shook them. This one was bigger and they could hear cups rattling in the other room. They laughed, a bit nervously and agreed that the earth spirits were really excited. Then another jolt in the earth shook their bed and as it settled, they heard a soft crack, as something fell off the shelf and landed on the floor beside them. Alessia put out her hand and felt around on the floor. A sharp point scratched her finger and she felt more carefully, her hands outlining two pieces of flat pottery, each with little lumps jutting out. Alessia gasped as she realised what it was and she traced her fingers around the outline, trying to assess the damage.

“It is the picture my mother made for me, when I left to come here. It is broken at the corner, I think my face has broken off.”

“We’ll look when it is light, maybe it can be mended. If the others are still recognisable that’s all that matters.

“Let’s get up, and go down to the sea,” said Alessia, “And watch the sun rise.” So they did, creeping out carefully so they would not wake the others and carrying Armishamai’s basket between them, one handle each. The baby slept on, soothed by the rocking movement of her little bed. They walked through the sleeping town and down to the beach, walking carefully on the soft sand. The first blush of the dawn was beginning to light up the sky to the south-east and they could see each other’s faces. There was a gentle wind, but chilly.

“It’s a good thing we put up those screens in the town, the party will be warmer. It’s cool here. Do you want to go further?”

“Let’s go down to the wet sand and greet the god of the sea,” said Alessia. “He has nothing to do with the midwinter festival, maybe he will appreciate a surprise visit!”

As they walked down the beach towards the boundary to the sea god’s territory, the earth spirit shook again, fiercely. Alessia staggered, losing her grip on the handle of the baby’s basket. The basket lurched and the baby let out a thin cry. Alessia laughed as no-one had been hurt and indicated to Danthys to put the basket down so that she could lift the baby out. As he did, the beach shuddered under them and their ears were assaulted by the loudest noise they had ever heard. It came from everywhere and nowhere, from outside them and from inside their heads. Alessia and Danthys clutched each other in fright, as they looked around to find the source of that huge noise. Armishamai started to wail. Danthys squinted up towards the hills, as he had heard stories that the earth spirit can sometimes try to escape through the top of a mountain, but there was nothing to see, except some people, running out of the town, also looking up towards the hills and gesticulating to each other.

“The Earth Spirits are angry,” said Alessia. “I wish Hetrion was here, he could do a better dance. Come on, it’s maybe up to us.” She began the gentle swirling movements